Over The Wall Camp, a magical place for children and young people with long-term health conditions
Founded in 1999 by Oscar-winning actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and UK businessman Joe Woods, Over The Wall Camp (OTWC) provides free, life-changing activity camps for children and families living with serious health conditions. Our free-of-charge residential activity camps are for children aged 8 – 17 years, with long term health conditions, their siblings and carers/parents.
For over 25 years, we’ve created spaces where children can challenge themselves, make lifelong friends, and experience the magic of childhood.
Now, we’re expanding! In 2024, we secured our first permanent home at Ockbrook, Derby. A 17-acre site that will be transformed into a camp ready space by 2026, unlocking even more opportunities for adventure, creativity, and connection.
We empower children and families to explore new possibilities
and rediscover the fun and magic of childhood.
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Upcoming Events at Derbion
Come back soon to to see what we have planned for 2025…
Our Story
It was after the businessman Joe Woods, had arranged for children from the UK to be flown to The Hole in The Wall Gang camp in the US, that a friendship between himself and Paul Newman, actor, philanthropist and camp founder, developed. In 1999, the two of them decided to set up a camp in the UK, which was later named Over The Wall Gang Camp.
When the charity was first launched, it catered for 25 children with cancer. After that first camp, the charity went from strength to strength, providing camps for various illnesses across several different locations in the UK.
